Syracuse football team adjusts its practice schedule with short week ahead for Temple game

Syracuse football coach Doug Marrone is congratulated by TV sideline reporter Allison Williams following the team's 31-27 victory Saturday night at Missouri. At left is SU's assistant director of athletics for communications, Sue Edson.Frank ordoñez / The Post-Standard

Syracuse, NY -- Syracuse football coach Doug Marrone had just guided the Orange to the biggest victory of his four-year tenure, a stunning 31-27 come-from-behind decision at Missouri that made SU bowl eligible for the second time in three seasons. Although he was clearly excited, his reaction afterward was muted.

“We’re excited about this win, and we’re going to celebrate this win,” he said. “Then we’ll put our minds together and go about the next game, because that’s the formula we’ve been trying to instill in this football team – focus on the next play.”

The next play will occur at 11 a.m. Friday when Syracuse (6-5, 4-2 Big East) travels to Temple (4-6, 1-5) in its final Big East contest. The short turnaround following a Saturday night game and long flight back afterward has forced the team to adjust its normal routine, which consists of a light Sunday practice, a day off Monday and then four days of game preparation for the upcoming opponent.

Instead, SU is taking today off and will begin preparing for the Owls on Monday. It will depart for Philadelphia around noon on Thanksgiving after a walk-through likely in its Manley facility. The rigors of the short wee will be offset somewhat by the fact that SU has no classes this week, so the team can concentrate on the game and recovering from a very physical game Saturday against the Tigers.